Vestavia Hills residents who vote at the Birming­ham International Church will likely cast their ballots this August and November at another location.

The City Council re­cently approved moving the polling place at the Bir­mingham International Church, 1380 Montgomery Highway, to the Horizon Church, 2345 Columbiana Road.

The Jefferson County Commission also approved changing the same polling place. The county uses the Birmingham International Church for county, state and federal elections, said Barry Stephenson, chair­man of the county Board of Registrars.

The council had ap­proved the Birmingham International Church -- formerly the Vestavia Alli­ance Church -- as a polling site in July 2011.

Previously, that polling site had been at the city's civic center in the Dogwood Room but was moved because election traffic conflicted with school traffic.

Vestavia Hills Elementary West is next to the civic center.

But during the March 13 presidential and state primaries, voters complained to city officials and the county Board of Registrars about problems associated with the Birmingham International Church polling site. Voters said lighting within the church wasn't sufficient, parking was confusing and accessibility onto Montgomery Highway was difficult.

"We realized probably around 2 p.m. on the day of the election we made a terrific mistake," Mayor Alberto "Butch" Zaragoza said. "We really thought it was a good location, but as it turned out, it was not."

The Horizon Church has adequate lighting, parking and accessibility, he said.

Stephenson said the lack of a traffic signal from the Birmingham International site onto the highway didn't help.

"Horizon Church has access to both Columbiana and Old Columbiana roads and traffic signal access from Columbiana Road," he said. "The parking lot is flat, and there are lots of handicapped spaces. So we think it's going to work there."

Changes in polling places must be approved by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Stephenson said he expects that to take eight weeks, in time for the Aug. 28 municipal elections.